Method of making a variable-configuration container

ABSTRACT

A sheet-material blank is provided having two pairs of spaced opposite edges and being formed intermediate the edges of one pair with a plurality of folding lines extending more or less in parallelism with one another. The blank is folded along at least some of these lines and shaped into a tubular body having opposite open ends, and end panels are inserted into the opposite open ends to close the same and make a container.

11111188 mates Paten 1191 1111 3,863,552 Jorba Gaharr 1 Feb, 4, 1975 METHOD OF MAKING A 1,793,101 2/1931 Labombarde 93/391 P VARIABLE-CONFIGURATION CONTAINER 1,803,239 4/1931 Deane 1,826,193 /1931 West [76] Inventor: Jose Jorba Gabarro, Rub1o, 10, 2 053 9 193 1 Igualada, Barcelona, Spain 2,053,686 9/1936 Powell 2,089,084 8/1937 Arneson 93/36 R X [221 Flled- 1972 2,189,436 2/1940 Rosenfeld 29/43 x [211 App]. 231 934 2,240,045 4/1941 Mackenzie 93/368 X 2,300,473 11/1942 Van Winkle... 229/4.5 2,595,046 4/1952 Amber 229/5.8 [30] Foreign Application Priority Data 3,311,033 3/1967 Felton, Jr. et a1 93/94 R X 3,485,436 12/1969 Mirasol 220/60 R X Oct. 8, 1970 Spam 384346 3599540 8H9. Kobold "93/391 R 52 U.S. Cl 93 94 R, 93 39.1 R, 93 39 P, 1 l 93//55 R Primary Examzner-Traws S. McGehee 511 1111. c1 B3110 5/00 ASS/am -l- SiPOS, [58] Field of Search 93/368, 39 c, 39.1 R, Mame/18mm 591k 93/77 R, 94 R, 94 PS, 36 M, 36 R, 36.05, 39.1 P, 55.1 R, 55.1 P; 229/93, 41 B, 41 C, [57] ABSTRACT 41 220/60 A sheet-material blank is provided having two pairs of spaced opposite edges and being formed intermediate [56] References C'ted the edges of one pair with a plurality of folding lines UNlTED STATES PATENTS extending more or less in parallelism with one an- 347,416 8/1886 Buckingham 93 3 R X other. The blank is folded along at least some of these 356,180 1/1887 Tilton 229/4.5 lines and shaped into a tubular body having opposite 754,948 3/1904 White 93/94 R open ends, and end panels are inserted into the oppo- Shevlin ite open ends [0 close the ame and make a con- 1,198,596 9/1916 Strange 93/391 R tame, 1,474,844 11/1923 Palmer 93/391 R 1,638,035 8/1927 Holbert 93/391 R 2 Claims, 19 Drawing Figures PATENIEDFEB 3,863,552

SHEET 2 OF 2 @OOOQ FIG. I00

FIGJO b FIG.||

METHOD OF MAKING A VARIABLE-CONFIGURATION CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to containers, and more particularly, to a method of making containers. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method of making vehicle-configuration containers from sheet-material blanks.

Many containers are made of sheet-material blanks which are provided with folding lines or scoring lines. These blanks can advantageously be stored in a small volume of space until the use of a container is required at which time the blanks are folded along the scoring lines to the configuration of a container. The problem with the prior art in this field isthat the configuration of a container which can be erected from such a blank is almost invariably predetermined, that is it is not possible to form with a single blank containers of different (i.e., variable) configuration. In many instances, how ever, this freedom of selecting the configuration of the container is either necessary or at least desirable, from a point of view'of the material to be packaged in the container and/or from an aesthetic point of view.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a general object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of making a variable-configuration container from a scored sheetmaterial blank.

In pursuance of this and other objects which become apparent hereafter, one feature of the invention resides in a method of making a variable-configuration container, which method, briefly stated, comprises the steps of providing a sheet-material blank having two pairs of spaced opposite edges, forming in this blank a plurality of folding lines extending between the edges of one of the pairs, folding the blank along at least some of the folding lines and shaping it to the configuration of a tubular body having opposite open ends, and inserting end panels into the opposite open ends so as to close the same.

For instance, the sheet-material blank may be provided with the folding lines extending in parallelism with one another. By appropriately folding the blank along certain ofthe folding lines and securing the adjacent ends of the blank can thus be made in the configuration of a tubular body. However, it is by no means necessary that this tubular body which perhaps initially will be of more or less circular cross-section remain in such configuration. Instead from the circular cross-section that is from cylindrical configuration it can be converted by simple pressure of the hands of a user, in that it is bent or folded along additional ones of the following lines to assume a desired other cross-section or configuration, for instance, quadratic, rectangular, elliptical, triangular or the like.

The blank need not be provided with folding lines over its entire surface. However, instead, it can be provided with folding or scoring lines on only sections of its surface area, for instance, the surface area may alternately be provided with sections which are formed with folding lines and with sections which are not formed with folding lines. In such an instance, the sections which are not formed with folding lines can of course not be formed or shaped, whereas those which have the folding lines can be so formed or shaped, that to a certain extent, the ultimate configuration ofa con tainer which can be erected with such a blank can be predetermined.

The sheet material of the blank can in conventional manner he cardboard of various different types, but of course it could also, for instance be a metallic material of appropriate conformability, a synthetic plastic or the like.

The end panels may be separate members, or they may be configurated as portions of the sheet material blank which adhere to one or both of the edges of the pair intermediate which the folding lines extend. In this case it is then simply necessary to fold the end panels inwardly into the open ends.

Under certain circumstances, it may be advantageous or even unnecessary to provide internal annular shoulders against which the end panels can abut so as to more securely limit the end panels with respect to movement axially of the tubular body. This can be achieved, for instance, by folding marginal zones of the blank which extend along the edges of the one pair between which the folding lines are provided, inwardly back upon themselves, at least once, for each marginal zone, in order to provide at least a double thickness of material and tothus produce the desired internal annular shoulder. Of course, if the marginal zone is folded back only once, then the shoulder will face axially inwardly of the tubular body. However, it is possible to fold each marginal zone in zig-zag shape, that is to fold it back twice, in opposite directions upon itself, in which case the annular shoulder will be facing outwardly of the respective open end of the tubular body.

Such folding of the marginal zones will of course also provide a reinforcement of the container. In lieu of this folding it is also possible to secure one or more strips of sheet material along these marginal zones so that it will be these strips of sheet material which can be secured by a suitable adhesive or the like, to provide the desired internal annular shoulder.

The blank may be also provided along the marginal zones with inwardly or outwardly projected striations or channels thus providing another shoulder to cooperate in the securing of the end panels with the internal annular shoulder achieved when the marginal zone is folded back only once.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however,

both as to its construction and its method of operation,

together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammatic plan view illustrating a sheet-material blank according to one feature of the invention;

FIGS. 2a 2c, are top-plan views of different crosssection containers (the ends not yet closed) which can be produced by appropriate folding of the blank in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of one of the end panels for use with the blank of FIG. I if the container to be formed from the blank 1 is to be of cylindrical configuration;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating the blank of FIG. 1 formed into a cylindrical tubular body;

FIG. is a view similar to FIG. 1 illustrating a different blank;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating another blank;

FIGS. 7a 7f show diagrammatically various crosssectional configurations of containers which can be produced with blanks according to the present invention;

' FIG. 8 is a fragmentary plan view illustrating another blank;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan view showing still a further blank;

FIG. a is a fragmentary plan view showing an additional blank;

FIG. 10b is a fragmentary plan view showing an end panel for use with the blank of FIG. 10a; and

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary perspective view showing still another blank.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing the drawing now in detail, and firstly FIG. 1 it will be seen that I have shown a blank 1 of sheetmaterial, for instance cardboard, light sheet metal, synthetic plastic or the like. This blank is provided with a plurality of folding or scoring lines 2 which may be provided on one or both major sides of the blank 1 and which in the illustrated embodiment extend in parallelism with one another intermediate two edges thereof. The marginal zones 3 of the blank are folded over to one side as illustrated, but it will be appreciated that only one of these marginal zones might be folded over or none might be so folded.

In any case, it will be understood that by folding the blank 1 of FIG. 1, along appropriate ones of the folding or scoring lines 2, a tubular body C having the configuration as shown in FIG. 2a (cylindrical) can be obtained. By further deforming this blank along additional ones of the folding lines 2, the body of FIG. 2a can be converted into the elliptical cross-sectional shape of FIG. 2b, or to the substantially triangular cross-sectional shape shown in FIG. 2c. Of course, any desired cross-sectional configuration intermediate the ones illustrated in FIGS. 2a can also be obtained, this being entirely dependent upon the manner in which a user decides to shape the body by folding it along respective ones of the folding lines 2.

In FIG. 4, a body 5 having the configuration shown in FIG. 2a has been illustrated that is the body 5 is of cylindrical configuration. In FIG. 3 there is illustrated an end panel 4 of which two would normally be provided if they are separate, and the end panel 4 may be of the same or different sheet material than the blank 1. Inasmuch as the body 5 in FIG. 4 is of circular crosssection, the configuration of the end panel 4 is made matingly and the end panel 4 is inserted and retained in the open end (or both open ends if two of the end panels are provided) by slightly deforming it so that it can be inserted and sprung that is, when it is released it will straighten out and abut the circumferential wall of the body 5, resting upon the inner annular shoulder 3a (see FIG. 4) which is provided by the zone 3.

FIG. 5 shows a further blank which illustrates that the folding lines 2 need not'be provided over the entire surface area ofthe blank which is here designated with reference numeral 6. Instead, it will be seen that the sections a and b are left unscored whereas the sections c are scored. Conversely, the blank 7 in FIG. 6 has the sections aa and bb scored and the sections cc unscored. It will be appreciated that depending upon the scoring arrangement, that is the arrangement of scored and un scored sections which is chosen for a particular blank, for instance, containers having the cross-section configurations shown in FIGS. 7a 7f. These are to be considered only exemplary, however, because evidently other configurations can also be chosen.

In FIG. 5 I have further illustrated that one or both (only one shown) marginal portions of the blank can be folded not once but twice back upon themselves. If this is done, the illustrated marginal portion in FIG. 5 will have a portion 6a folded back upon the blank and a portion 6b folded back upon the portion 6a.

When the blank is subsequently formed to a tubular configuration, the annular shoulder 6c formed on the portion 6b will be facing outwardly of the associated open end and the end panel (not illustrated in FIG. 5) can abut against the shoulder 6c.

FIG. 8 shows a blank 8 whereinthe showing of the scoring or folding lines 2 has been omitted for the sake of clarity. It will be understood that these lines will extent in the same manner as in FIGS. 1, 5 and 6. In FIG. 8, however, the folding of marginal portions back upon themselves, (as the marginal portion 3 in FIG. 3 or the marginal portions 6a, 6b in FIG. 5) has been omitted. The inner annular shoulder is here provided by securing to the blank 8 two strips 9 and 10 of sheet material along one or both (both shown) ofthe edges 8a and 8b intermediate which the folding lines extend. The strips 9 and 10 are slightly spaced from one another to define between themselves a groove 11 into which an end panel can be sprung. As in the other embodiments, it will be appreciated that this possibility need be resorted to only along one edge whereas a different provision (for instance, the folding back provision of FIGS. 1 and 5) may be chosen along the other edge.

In FIG. 9 there is illustrated a blank 12 in which again strips 13 and 14 are secured extending along the opposite edges and defining between themselves a groove 15 into which an end panel can be sprung.

In this embodiment, however, at least one end panel is of one piece with the blank 12, although of course both end panels can be made of one piece with it. The end panel'is here illustrated to be of circular outline, being identified with reference numeral 17 and being connected via a tab 16 with one edge of the blank 12. When the blank 12, in which again the score lines 2 have been omitted for the sake of clarity, is folded to a cylindrical configuration, the end panel 17 is folded along the broken lines 19 (which may be scored to facilitate such folding) and its circumferential edge portions are snapped into the groove 15. A tab 18 may be provided on the end panel 17 to be gripped by the fingers of an operatoar when it is later desired to open the container, that is to lift the end panel 17 out of the groove 15. A similar end panel may of course be provided at the opposite edge of the blank 12 if desired, or a separate end panel may be utilized (such as the one in FIG. 3) to close the tubular container at this opposite edge.

Of course it will be appreciated that wherever the end panel has been shown to be of circular or substantially circular outline, this assumes that the tubular container is to be formed as being of cylindrical configuration. Evidently, if the tubular container is to be of a configuration other than cylindrical, for instance rectangular, quadratic or triangular, the configuration of the end panel must be of similar contour in order to be able to fit into and close the respective open ends of the tubular container.

FIG. a shows fragmentarily another blank 20 wherein the score lines have also been omitted, it being understood that they will be provided in accordance with the illustration in one of the preceding embodiments. Here a single strip of sheet material 21 is provided extending along one of the edges intermediate which the core lines extend, it being understood that such a strip 21 may be provided along each of these edges. The strip 21 is provided with cutouts 22 of FIG. 10b shows an end panel 23, the periphery of which is provided with projections 24 which can be snapped into these cutouts 22 when the end panel 23 is inserted into the associated open end of the tubular container formed by appropriate shaping of the blank 20. The cutouts 22 could of course also be formed in foldedover marginal portions such as shown in FIG. 1 and designated therein with reference numeral 3, or they could be formed in the marginal portions but without folding the same over. The configuration ofthe cutouts and of the projections 24 in FIG. 10b could be different from what has been illustrated. It is also clear, that for instance, in the embodiments of FIGS. 8 and 9, only a single strip (9 or 10 in FIG. 8, and 13 or 14 in FIG. 9) need be provided in order to afford the desired internal annular shoulder. In that case there would of course be no groove (such as the groove 11 in FIG. 8 or the groove in FIG. 9).

FIG. 11 shows fragmentarily a blank 25 wherein the I score lines have also been omitted, provided according to the illustration with striations or channels 26, 27 along one or both marginal zones of the blank, projected outwardly as indicated by reference numeral 26 or inwardly as 27, thus providing another shoulder to cooperate with the internal annular shoulder 3 illustrated in FIG. 1.

The separately applied strips may be secured by a suitable adhesive, or by stapling or the like. The end panels need not be disc-shaped, that is they need not be flat, but could also be of other configuration and could for instance have a circumferential axially projecting rim if desired.

If the end panels are provided with such a rim then they could of course be used to cap the tubular containerexteriorly rather than being inserted into the open ends, although the other possibility is currently preferred and for this purpose the inner annular shoulder or groove, depending upon the emodiment in question is provided.

The blank may be provided with a transparent or translucentportion in order to show the contents in the assembled container and the same may be provided, (or it may be provided as an alternative) on one of the end panels.

What is important is the fact that the method according to the present invention permits a container to be assembled which can be configurated to any desired contour and which thus offers a greater versatility than was heretofore possible. It is hardly necessary to point out that when such a blank is formed initially to tubular configuration its overlapping end portions will be secured in suitable manner, for instance by stapling, adhesively or in other manner.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of applications differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a method of making a variableconfiguration container, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of making a variable-configuration container, comprising the steps of providing a sheetmaterial blank having two pairs. of spaced opposite edges; forming in said blank a plurality of folding lines extending between the edges of one of said pairs; securing to said blank along at least one edge of said one pair a strip of sheet material having a plurality of cut-outs; folding said blank along at least some of said folding lines and shaping it to the configuration of a tubular body having opposite open ends; and inserting end panels into said opposite ends so as to close the same, at least one of said end panels having a peripheral margin provided with projecting portions which are snapped into respective ones of said cut-outs.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of forming said folding lines comprises forming a plurality of said folding lines in at least two zones of said blank which are spaced transversely of the direction of elongation of said folding lines. 

1. A method of making a variable-configuration container, comprising the steps of providing a sheet-material blank having two pairs of spaced opposite edges; forming in said blank a plurality of folding lines extending between the edges of one of said pairs; securing to said blank along at least one edge of said one pair a strip of sheet material having a plurality of cut-outs; folding said blank along at least some of said folding lines and shaping it to the configuration of a tubular body having opposite open ends; and inserting end panels into said opposite ends so as to close the same, at least one of said end panels having a peripheral margin provided with projecting portions which are snapped into respective ones of said cut-outs.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of forming said folding lines comprises forming a plurality of said folding lines in at least two zones of said blank which are spaced transversely of the direction of elongation of said folding lines. 